Part one of seven: San Francisco, Japan, & Thailand (July 2013)

For years I had wanted to travel to Thailand.  Who could resist the sights of the busy city covered with temples and the smells of spices and flowers emanating from every corner?  Who wouldn't want to submerge themselves in the Indian Ocean (more specifically the Gulf of Thailand) and kayak in the beautiful turquoise sea along naturally eroded rocks?  And let's be real, who wouldn't want some authentic pad thai?  Well, my partner and wonderful travel companion (let's call him Deezy) was a bit weary...to say the least. After all, it's a long flight, neither of us can read, write, or speak Thai, and what did either of us really know about Thai culture to make the trip worth while?! But, it was my turn to pick the destination.  And I chose Thailand, so I immediately began my research: where to go, what to do, places to stay.  

As I was immersed in my search, Deezy gave one condition upon going to Thailand: we also had to travel to Japan and climb Mt. Fuji.  Ummmm...no problem.  He busily researched Japan and Mt. Fuji, while I concentrated on Thailand. Oh yeah, we also decided to make a quick stop in San Francisco to break up the flight time from Boston, MA. So with countless web pages open, I excitedly began to accumulate information that would be helpful in our travels. I jumped from information about San Fran to Thailand, all the while daydreaming about the much anticipated experience. We had both already requested the time off from work - just slightly more than two weeks - and there were only two weeks until we left. Nothing was set - not even the flights. Did we panic? Nope. That's how we roll.  We debated whether or not to even book anything; after all, we had really enjoyed our fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants trip to Costa Rica and wanted to keep that "magic" going. But, neither of us speak Japanese or Thai. We decided to book hotels and plan some excursions with the understanding that plans can and do change. Tick tock, tick tock. So, with literally two weeks before leaving, we finally booked flights and hotels. I love us!!!

July 13, 2013: Arrival in San Francisco
Among the many things I love about Deezy, he's very adventuresome yet a realist and quite practical! So when we arrived in San Fran, we took the MUNI (metro/subway) to a stop "near" the hotel. My inclination after a long flight is to grab a cab and get the hell to the hotel. I'm tired. It's hot. My luggage weighs a ton.  We need rest.  But, Deezy was right to encourage me onto the MUNI. I mean, I take public transportation in Providence, Boston, and NYC, so why not San Fran?  Just because we weren't familiar with the city? Just because we were visitors?  Well, that is part of the journey.

To truly travel to a city, you must learn the city and no better way than to ride the public transportation. Surprisingly, it was nice and fast!  We made our way to Nob Hill, the area in which our hotel was located. The MUNI exited onto a busy square. Yep, that would be Union Square. The crowd was sizable. There were so many people and tourists that my stride was reduced to mere baby steps through the thick concentration of shouting voices, gleeful laughs, vendors' solicitations, and opportunistic beggars. Nob Hill ain't a hill. It is a neighborhood network of miniature mountain ranges conspiring against its victims and daring them to take the (nearly) vertical challenge upwards. Okay, maybe I exaggerate this but only slightly; at least, it seemed that way at the time. No way was I walking up it. NO WAY!  Remember, I was carrying 70 lbs of luggage!  

As I was soaking in all the sights and sounds of Union Square, I saw it. It was beautiful. Really beautiful. Yes, it was a genuine San Francisco trolley. No, the trolley itself was not mesmerizing by any stretch of the imagination, but it was my way up! Deezy and I decided that it would be a good idea...along with 100 other tourists. No kidding! The line for the trolley was longer than anything I had ever seen. Despite feeling the fatigue setting in, we decided to begin our climbing expedition in San Francisco. Nob Hill, Mt. Fuji - same thing, right?! So, climb along we did. Okay...not so bad. I got this. One foot in front of the other.

Although I thought the street was flattening, it was actually swelling. It was like a battle now. My personal Grendel. My backpack is solidly on my sweaty back. My steps felt like crawls but I eventually developed a rhythm to my step. Still, I can feel the weight of my "must haves" weighing me down. I am notorious for overpacking, and now I'm paying the price. In addition to my "European backpacking" backpack, I'm carrying my camera around my neck, my handbag across my shoulder, and my carry-on bag. Oh wait --- did I mention that I was wearing high-wedged shoes?! They are adorable: teal blue with an open toe and braided raffia-like five-inch wedge. If I'm gonna sweat and be in pain, I should at least look cute. All the way up Powell Street I go. What a work out, which I wouldn't have minded had I been dressed for the occasion. Needless to say, the cuteness evaporated with each step I took, along with all the hydration from my body. The hotel was near and quite elegant, which made the arrival that more awkward.

Arrival at the check in desk

Me: (Sweating, slightly panting, and ready to pass out) We're here to check in.
Hotel clerk: Wow, is it hot outside?
Me: We just walked from Union Square with all our luggage.
Hotel clerk: That's so cool!  (Total California earth girl)
Me: Yeah (forced smile) so, is our room ready?
Hotel clerk: Where are you traveling from?
Me: Boston. (Internal dialogue: How about that room?)
Hotel clerk: I love Boston!  How long you here for?
Me: (Reminding myself that I'm doing what I love the most - traveling and having new experiences) Only a few days before we take off for Japan and Thailand.
Hotel clerk: What a great plan!  
Me and hotel clerk: Now, I'm genuinely smiling, and we are lost in a ridiculous conversation about nothing in particular. Deezy patiently sits. He is sweating!  I am too. We're stinky messes.
Hotel clerk: So, let me check on the room.  {Typing}  Hmmm...yep, I found one for you. All set. Definitely check out the...(I can barely remember any of our conversation after getting the room key.)
Deezy: (Playful roll of the eyes) You're always cluckin' with hens, always making friends.
Me: I love to travel!  {Cheesy smile}
Deezy: You're a travel monster.
Me: (Witty smile, mouth pout, and head jutting to the side.)  You said it, Deezy!  It's true - I AM A TRAVEL MONSTER.  

We make our way into the elevator and found our room, which was comfortable and cool. The walls are as thick a papyrus; we can hear the television, clear as a bell, from the next room. Oh well...it's only two nights. It was still relatively early in the morning so we had a full day to explore the city. First, however, we decided to rest for thirty minutes. Then, we hit the streets. And by streets, I mean hills.  Lots and lots of hills.

San Francisco is beautiful, clean, and unseasonably cool to Boston standards. The breeze from the Pacific brings not just brisk air but the smell of the sea. Ahhhhhh...breathe in, breathe out. Ocean air. Reminds me a little bit of Maine.  Seagulls litter the sky and atop almost any of the hilly streets is the perfect view of the scenery below. Alcatraz is perfectly positioned from many a hilltop view.  But for its penal utility, it's quite lovely...from afar. We pace leisurely through the city heading into Chinatown. Along the way we are both parched. A little store front seemed like the perfect place to get some refreshments. Because we are unfamiliar with the city, we didn't notice that this was not a very touristy section of the city.  Neither of us care about those things. We entered and the clerk looked at us with a twinge of confusion. There were piles of vegetables in crates scattered throughout the small shop. Boxes upon boxes. Leafy vegetables, root vegetables, vegetables I only knew to be vegetables because of their presence in the store. Yes, lots of vegetables. Some of the boxes were piled higher than my head - even wearing the adorable 5" wedges. After a quick go-round, we found no drinks or snacks. Polite smile aaaaaaand scene...  

We walked a bit farther done the street and found a more conventional convenience store. Still lots of vegetables but also some water! We made our way to the ocean and then followed it toward Pier 39.  

Pier 39 is a curious place. Filled with tourists, it's quite amazing that the draw is nothing more than the intangible, beautiful view. Sure, there are street vendors and artists, restaurants and gift shops. But, people come to see Alcatraz and the ships and the sea. Very pleasant and tranquil.  

We walk around the pier for quite some time. I take lots of pictures. No angle escapes me. No image eludes the capture of my lens. I get the money shot! (See above: seagull on the ship with Alcatraz in the background.) Deezy is meandering his way through the area, quietly appreciating the pier. We head into a small arcade with antique pinball machines and other games from generations long forgotten. I spot it: a picture booth. Pulling Deezy's arm toward the direction of the booth, I drag him to the curtain. "Let's get our picture!" I thought I would have to beg...plea just a little, but he was surprisingly agreeable. Under the curtain, I see two sets of legs. We'll have to wait our turn. Another couple approaches and wait after us. It costs only $2 for the sheet of four photos. Within 20 seconds, we're done. After another 2 minutes, the photos drop down.

Our heads are connected as Deezy holds the strip of photos and we both look at them. The first one is a mess - my hair is covering both of us. The next three pictures are cute...I think...to my recollection. Had we saved the pictures and not dropped them somewhere, I would pull them out now and attest to their cuteness.  Since they're lost - presumably in some trash bin on Pier 39 with some seagull poop and maybe a severed fish head - you'll have to allow me artistic license to recall the photos as spectacular.

We weave through the streets. It's quite late now and night sky sets in. We had wandered away from the pier but found our way back in search of a restaurant for dinner. No luck. Nothing tickles our fancy. Well, maybe at this time I should insert the fact that Deezy has a delicate and finite palate, so I patiently await the verdict as I am fairly undiscriminating in the gastronomic sense. I'll try anything once. It's now pretty late and no determination about dinner has been made. We walk toward the hotel, which is still a good mile or two away, including the atrocious hills. Fortunately we spot a pizza place. Thank goodness, Deezy loves pizza. And, it's next to a restaurant that has take out noodles. YAY...noooooodles! We grab our take out and head back. We walked all day long but we're both wide awake. And as we settle in for the night, we discuss the plans for tomorrow: Napa Valley.